In an examination, a candidate secured 125 marks and failed by 15 marks. If the pass percentage was 35%, find the maximum marks.

Given:

Passing marks = 35%

A candidate gets = 125 marks

The candidate fails by = 15 marks

Let $x$ be the maximum marks.

∴ Passing marks = $\dfrac{35}{100} \times x$

= $\dfrac{7}{20}\times x$

= $\dfrac{7x}{20}$ ……….(1)

Since the candidate got 125 marks and fails by 15 marks. Hence, we can say that passing marks = (125 + 15) = 140 marks.

Using equation (1), we can say

⇒ $\dfrac{7x}{20} = 140$

⇒ $x = \dfrac{140 \times 20}{7}$

⇒ $x = \dfrac{2800}{7}$

⇒ $x = 400$

The maximum marks = 400.